Dissertations / Theses: 'Maize farmers'

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Mofokeng, Maine Jonas. "Factors affecting the hedging decision of farmers : the case of maize farmers in Gauteng province." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71750.

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Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Maize is the most important field crop in South Africa. It is used for both animal feeds and human consumption. It is also used by many industries as an input, is a source of foreign exchange and of employment opportunities for many people in the country. It is an important component of the agricultural sector, plays an important role in the economy and presents opportunities in terms of agricultural investment and employment creation. The maize industry in South Africa has long history of government intervention where the price of maize was set by government through the office of the Minister of Agriculture. This was fuelled by the two Marketing Acts (of 1937 and 1968). During the period of these Acts, farmers were not exposed to international markets. However after the introduction of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (Act 47 of 1996), farmers have been exposed to international maize prices, i.e. to the forces of supply and demand. Farmers are no longer guaranteed a maize price during the beginning of the production season, and now have to use different methods to protect their income against a volatile maize price. Through forward contracting (hedging) their maize, farmers can minimize the price risk that they are facing. A number of instruments have been developed to assist farmers to protect themselves against price risk. In South Africa, SAFEX is used to reflect the expected future price of maize and it can be used by farmers as a reference for the expected price. Different factors affect the hedging decisions of farmers. The main objective of this study was to identify factors affecting the hedging decision of maize farmers in Gauteng, and hence their rate of adoption of hedging strategies. The study employed a number of methods in an effort to answer this question. Data analysis relating to factors affecting the hedging decision of the farmers was carried out using Excel and the SPSS statistical package and took the form of multiple cross tabulation. A Probit regression equation was estimated using the SPSS 20 statistical software package. In the case of the adoption rate of hedging by maize farmers in Gauteng, it was found that only 35 per cent of the maize farmers forward contract their maize against price risk. This implies that they are not protecting their income against price volatility through forward contracting. The results show that the factors that have the most influence on the decision whether to hedge are: the gender, age, and agricultural qualification of the principal decision maker; whether the decision maker is a member of a grain association and the size of that grain association; the length of period that the decision maker has been producing grain; the size of the farm; whether the farmer rents in land; the proportion of off-farm income earned and whether the farmer takes out insurance. These variables are all statistically significant at the 5 per cent level.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mielies is die belangrikste akkerbougewas in Suid-Afrika. Dit word gebruik vir beide dierevoere en menslike verbruik. Dit word ook in baie bedrywe as ’n inset gebruik, vorm ’n bron van buitelandse valuta en verskaf werksgeleenthede aan baie mense in die land. Dit is ’n belangrike komponent van die landbousektor, speel ’n belangrike rol in die ekonomie en verskaf geleenthede in terme van landboubelegging en werkskepping. Die mieliebedryf in Suid-Afrika het ’n lang geskiedenis van regeringsingryping waardeur die prys van mielies deur die regering, by name van die kantoor van die Minister van Landbou, vasgestel is. Dit is aangevuur deur twee Bemarkingswette (van 1937 en 1968). Gedurende die tydperk van hierdie wette is boere nie aan internasionale markte blootgestel nie. Met die aanvang van die Wet op die Bemarking van Landbouprodukte (Wet 47 van 1996) is boere aan internasionale mieliepryse blootgestel, m.a.w. aan die kragte van vraag en aanbod. Boere word nie meer aan die begin van die produksieseisoen ’n mielieprys gewaarborg nie, en moet nou ander maniere vind om hulle inkomste teen ’n onbestendige mielieprys te beskerm. Deur die koop van termynkontrakte op hulle mielies (verskansing) kan boere die prysrisiko’s wat hulle in die gesig staar, minimaliseer. ’n Aantal instrumente is ontwikkel om boere te help om hulleself teen prysrisiko te beskerm. In Suid-Afrika word SAFEX gebruik om die verwagte toekomstige prys van mielies te weerspieël en dit kan deur boere as ’n verwysing na die verwagte prys gebruik word. Verskeie faktore beïnvloed die verskansingsbesluite van boere. Die belangrikste doelwit van hierdie studie was om faktore te identifiseer wat die verskansingsbesluit van mielieboere in Gauteng beïnvloed, en dus die tempo waarteen hulle verskansingstrategieë in gebruik neem. Die studie het ’n aantal metodes gebruik in ’n poging om hierdie vraag te beantwoord. Data-analise m.b.t. die faktore wat die verskansingsbesluit van die boere beïnvloed, is met Excel en die SPSS statistiese pakket uitgevoer en het die vorm van meervoudige kruistabellering aangeneem. ’n Probitregressievergelyking is met behulp van SPSS 20 statistiese sagteware beraam. In die geval van die tempo van aanneming van verskansing deur mielieboere in Gauteng is daar gevind dat net 35 persent van die mielieboere termynkontrakte op hulle mielies gebruik om hulle teen prysrisiko te beskerm. Dit impliseer dat hulle nie hulle inkomste teen onbestendige pryse beskerm nie. Die resultate toon dat die faktore wat die grootste invloed het op die besluit om te verskans die volgende is: die geslag, ouderdom en landboukwalifikasie van die hoof besluitnemer; of die besluitnemer ’n lid van ’n graanvereniging is, en die grootte van dié graanvereniging; hoe lank die besluitnemer reeds graan produseer; die grootte van die plaas; of die boer grond inhuur; die proporsie van inkomste wat weg van die plaas af verdien word; en of die boer versekering uitneem. Hierdie veranderlikes is almal statisties betekenisvol by die 5 persent vlak.

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Mbonane, Nobuhle Duduzile. "An analysis of farmers' preferences for crop insurance : a case of maize farmers in Swaziland." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/67801.

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The uncertain nature of agricultural production makes risk management essential in providing farmers with protection against potential losses. Crop insurance is a sustainable risk management tool that ensures the sustainability of agricultural enterprises by reducing income risks. The main focus has been on the supply and penetration of crop insurance, with limited attention paid to the demand and to farmers’ preferences for crop insurance. In Swaziland, the crop insurance industry is still under-developed; hence, an empirical gap exists in knowledge of farmers’ preferences for crop insurance. This study identifies the conditions that farmers prefer to accept with regard to crop insurance, as well as the factors that influence them in purchasing it. It provides an understanding of the need of farming households for crop insurance, and seeks to identify the best ways of protecting farmers’ livelihoods from agricultural risks. It also provides an account of the effects of ineffective risk management strategies. The study employed descriptive statistics to analyse primary data: snowballing sampling methods were used to collect survey data from 150 households in the Hhohho and Lubombo regions of Swaziland. Results show that 52% of the sampled households expressed an interest in purchasing crop insurance; the other 48% were not interested in purchasing crop insurance and gave reasons for this. The probit model was used to determine the factors that influence the likelihood of farmers indicating an interest in purchasing crop insurance: these included gender, marital status, occupation, education, location, savings and farming experience. Farmers based their preferences on crop insurance features such as risk cover, coverage levels and the nature of cover, compensation and premiums. Binary logistic regressions were used to identify factors that influence farmers’ preferences regarding crop-insurance features. Respondents preferred the multi-peril crop insurance cover, higher coverage levels, lower premiums and compensation based on market price. They also wanted their coverage to include both crops and livestock, and to be involved in the designing of crop insurance programmes. A lack of farmer education regarding the purpose and benefits of crop insurance was one of the causes of farmers’ lack of interest in purchasing crop insurance. Evidence from this study indicated that farmers in the Lubombo region were more interested in crop insurance than farmers in the Hhohho region. This was predictable, considering that the more risk or uncertainty farmers face, the more likely they are to show an interest in purchasing a sustainable risk management strategy like crop insurance. Farmers are currently more responsive to crop insurance and their preferences are important in informing the ex-ante design process and finding ways of improving crop insurance programmes in Swaziland. This study recommends education for farmers on the role and benefits of crop insurance; it also suggests that the Swazi government to consider implementing crop insurance subsidies and engage with insurance providers to tailor programmes to meet the needs and constraints faced by farmers. Understanding farmers’ preferences for particular attributes of crop insurance is imperative in informing and designing improved insurance contracts.
Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2018.
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
MSc (Agric)
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Baloyi, Rebecca Tshilambilu. "Technical efficiency in maize production by small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba, Limpopo Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1419.

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Thesis (M.Agric. (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo
Maize is the most important cereal crop grown in South Africa. This crop is produced throughout the country under diverse environments. The study only focuses on the technical efficiency because it is an important subject in developing agriculture where resources are limited, but high population growth is very common. Technical efficiency is the ability of a farmer to obtain output from a given set of physical inputs. Farmers have a tendency of under and/or overutilising the factors of production. The main aim of this study was to analyse the technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba rural community of Limpopo Province. The objective of the study was to determine the level of technical efficiency of smallscale maize producers and to identify the socio-economic characteristics that influence technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba. Purposive and Snowball sampling techniques were used to collect primary data from 120 small-scale farmers. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the level of technical efficiency and Logistic regression model was used to analyse the variables that have influence the technical efficiency of maize production. Cobb-Douglas results reveal that small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba are experiencing technical inefficiency in maize production due to the decreasing return to scale, which means they are over-utilising factors of production. Logistic regression results indicate that out of 13 variables included in the analysis as socio-economic factors, 10 of them (level of education, income of the household on monthly basis, farmer`s farming experience, farm size, cost of tractor hours, fertiliser application, purchased hybrid maize seeds, membership to farmers` organisation, is maize profitable) were found to be significant and 3 (gender, age and hired labour) are non-significant. However, farm size was found to be the most significant variable at 99% level, showing a positive relationship to smallscale maize producer`s technical efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended that government should do the on-farm training since farmers mainly depend on trial and error and farmers` should have access to enough arable land and tractor services. However, farmers need to be trained on matters relating to fertiliser application, on the amount of seeds a farmer should apply per ha, and the importance of using hybrid seed.

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Greenlee, Diana Mae. "Accounting for subsistence variation among maize farmers in Ohio valley prehistory /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/6565.

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Atadja, Franklin Komla. "Sustainability Challenges for Maize and Cassava Farmers in Amankwakrom Subdistrict, Ghana." Thesis, Walden University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10243184.

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Agricultural system in Ghana underperformed because of limited financing, which constrained some small-scale maize and cassava farmers. The purpose of this case study design was to explore the methods that some small-scale maize and cassava farmers in Amankwakrom Subdistrict used in obtaining farm financing. Two themes from the literature review were a lack of collateral for small-scale farm financing and the small-scale farmers cooperative associations? role in farm financing. Regional-scale management sustainability index formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data collection included semistructured face-to-face interviews with 8 fluent English speaking small-scale maize and cassava farmers who have obtained farm financing in the previous years. Using the Microsoft Excel and Non-numerical unstructured data indexing and theorizing software program for data analysis method, 3 major themes emerged: the farmer?s membership benefits of working in cooperative associations; farmer?s ability to provide the collateral requirements for the financial institutions; and farmer?s good loan repayment history. The study findings indicated that some small-scale maize and cassava farmers obtained farm loans because they used the cooperative associations as their collateral assets in order to satisfy for the requirements of the financial institutions. Social implications include the potential to guide the small-scale maize and cassava farmers to access farm credits to use in expanding their farm sizes. Expansion in farm sizes may result in more maize and cassava production that can help eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in the Amankwakrom Subdistrict of Ghana.

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Grewar, Robert. "Investigating the relationship between sustainability and farmer decision-making: a qualitative study of maize farmers in Mpumalanga, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003906.

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The goal of the research paper was to understand the complex relationship between the issue of sustainability and maize farmers’ decision-making processes. The aim is to shed light on the realities experienced by maize farmers in terms of how sustainability impacts on the decisions they make and how the decisions they make impact on sustainability. The importance of the research lies in the current state of affairs in the world in terms of the current economic recession, overpopulation, dire poverty and hunger, and the poor state of the environment. If humankind is to continue its existence on Earth in a happy, healthy world, something is going to have to give. In order for this to happen, people need to start grappling with the concept of sustainability. Focusing on sustainability as a whole is likely to end in despair. However, breaking the problem down into its component pieces will allow people to influence the particular sector in which they operate. It is therefore imperative for research into sustainability to be undertaken in all sectors of society and the economy. Agriculture presents an excellent research area due to its intrinsic link with the environment, society and the economy. Agriculture and its wellbeing is inextricably tied to environmental health. Healthy plants and animals will not grow in unhealthy conditions. Society is to a large degree dependent on agriculture for food, agriculture therefore has a significant impact on social order and function. Agriculture is one of the primary contributors to GDP, particularly in poor and developing nations. As a result, agriculture has an important role to play in ensuring economic sustainability. In order to engage with sustainability from an agricultural perspective it was decided to engage on the farmer-level. Gaining an understanding of their reality in terms of what motivates their decisions is key to understanding the relationship between agriculture and sustainability. Three maize farmers in Mpumalanga, South Africa, were interviewed with the aim of collecting qualitative data and then analysing the data using thematic analysis. The methodology employed enabled the researcher to uncover patterns in the data that constituted themes across the interviews. The following themes emerged: Theme 1: Economic factors are the primary decision driver. This is primarily due to the extent of the financial risk experienced by farmers as a result of market risk, production risk, finance risk, and rising input costs. This results in economic considerations superseding environmental or social concerns in farmers’ decisions. This has a negative impact on the overall sustainability of the farming operation. Theme 2: There has been a decrease in the number of family-run farms. This is attributable to a number of factors including economic failure, fear of loss of land due to land-reform policies, as well as crime. Family-run farms tend to have a greater focus on sustainability due to the vested interest in the next generation taking over the farm. The corporate farming operations that are taking over the farms tend to be more focussed on short-term gains in order to satisfy shareholders. Theme 3: Mechanisation is preferable to manual labour. There has been an alarming decrease in the number of labourers employed on farms. Farmers say this is due to two factors. Firstly, machines are more efficient than labour. Secondly, restrictive labour laws have made famers less keen to employ people. The net effect of these two factors is that unemployment is rising. This has negative consequences for society, the economy, and the environment. Theme 4: Farmers believe they do very little environmental damage. This results in decisions being made that do not consider environmental wellbeing other than soil health. This is because farmers see healthy soil as an integral input that optimises economic performance. Farmers tend to prioritise economic factors in their decisions more than environmental or social factors. This results in an unsustainable perspective. The only ways in which this is likely to change is if the financial risk associated with agriculture is decreased, or if farmers are given financial incentive to change their ways. In order to deal with this issue it is necessary for further research to be conducted. Research needs to be conducted to confirm the results of this study. It is important to know whether the results pertain only to maize farmers in Mpumalanga or whether most farmers in South Africa, and indeed the world, face similar problems. Research should also be conducted to propose policies or procedures to reduce financial risk in agriculture. Research should focus on reducing market risk and reducing input costs, possibly via subsidisation.

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Sánchez, Toledano Blanca Isabel. "Farmers' preferences and the factors affecting their decision to improve maize crops in Mexico." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/456244.

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Mexico is one of the countries with the highest corn production in the world (24.6 million tons) (FAOSTAT, 2016). However, in some regions, the yields are very low (2.0 Tn.ha-1) compared to the national average (9.39 Tn.ha-1). Among the different strategies to improve productivity, the adoption of improved maize seeds can play an important role. However, the adoption of this type of seed in Mexico is still limited. The development of a seed sector that meets the needs of farmers is an opportunity to increase improved seed usage, productivity, and, thus, profitability of Mexican farmers. The main objective is to analyze farmers¿ opinions and attitudes towards the improved seeds adoption. To achieve this objective, we followed a methodological approach in three phases. Data was gathered from face-to-face survey with 200 corn farmers conducted in January and March 2015. The survey was carried out in Chiapas, one of the states with the largest area planted with maize in Mexico and the highest percentage of marginal corn outcomes. In the first phase, we analyzed farmers¿ decision at the production level. We also studied farmers¿ heterogeneity by analyzing their socioeconomic characteristics and those of their farms, attitudes and opinions towards improved seeds, their perceived risk preferences and their objectives when managing their farm. Results showed the presence of three types of farmers: "In transition," who do not fully appreciate the potential of improved seeds (52.5%); "Conservatives," with a negative perception of improved seeds (18.5%); and "Innovators," with a positive perception (29%). Each of the identified segments has its commercial strategy with differentiated objectives, although the economic objectives prevail over the rest. In the second phase, we identified the key attributes as the main determining factors when selecting the improved varieties of maize seeds. We also indentified the farmers¿ willingness to pay (WTP) for each attribute and analyzed their observed heterogeneity, while taking into account several socio-economic variables. The analysis reflected that the improved seed varieties were more preferred than the Creole alternative varieties, showing a heterogeneous WTP to ensure higher yields, resistance to diseases, and larger ear size. Finally, in the last phase, we examined the determinants of the adoption rate of the improved seeds using a survival analysis. Approximately the decision of the 60% of farmers who adopted was over a period of 10 years. Young farmers with few family members and several agricultural generations that exhibited positive attitudes towards innovation and with low risk perception are likely to adopt the new varieties. Results showed that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 negatively affected the adoption rate of improved seeds. Results showed low knowledge level of farmers towards the advantages of improved seeds. It is necessary to improve extension tools for the efficient use of sustainable agricultural inputs and practices to accelerate the process of adopting improved seeds and to facilitate access to financing and insurance.
México es uno de los países con mayor producción de maíz en el mundo (24.6 millones de toneladas) (FAOSTAT, 2016). Sin embargo, en algunas regiones los rendimientos son bajos (2,0 Tn.ha-1) en comparación con el promedio nacional (9,39 Tn.ha-1). Entre las diferentes estrategias para mejorar la productividad, la adopción de semillas mejoradas de maíz puede desempeñar un papel importante. Sin embargo, la adopción de este tipo de semillas en México sigue siendo limitada. El desarrollo de un sector de semillas que satisfaga las necesidades de los agricultores es una oportunidad para incrementar el uso de semillas, la productividad y, por tanto, la rentabilidad de los agricultores mexicanos. El objetivo principal es analizar las opiniones y actitudes de los agricultores hacia la adopción de semillas mejoradas. Para lograr este objetivo, seguimos un enfoque metodológico en tres fases. Los datos se recolectaron de una encuesta cara a cara con 200 agricultores de maíz realizada en enero y marzo de 2015. La encuesta se realizó en Chiapas, uno de los Estados con mayor superficie plantada de maíz en México y el mayor porcentaje de resultados marginales de maíz. En la primera fase, analizamos la decisión de los productores a nivel de producción. También estudiamos la heterogeneidad de los agricultores analizando sus características socioeconómicas y las de sus fincas, actitudes y opiniones respecto a semillas mejoradas, sus preferencias de riesgo percibidas y sus objetivos al manejar su finca. Los resultados mostraron la presencia de tres tipos de agricultores: "En transición", que no aprecian plenamente el potencial de semillas mejoradas (52,5%); "Conservadores", con una percepción negativa de semillas mejoradas (18,5%); e "Innovadores", con una percepción positiva (29%). Cada uno de los segmentos identificados tiene su estrategia comercial con objetivos diferenciados, aunque los objetivos económicos predominan sobre los demás. En la segunda fase, identificamos los atributos claves como los principales factores determinantes al seleccionar las variedades mejoradas de semillas de maíz. También identificamos la disposición de los agricultores a pagar por cada atributo y analizamos su heterogeneidad observada, teniendo en cuenta varias variables socioeconómicas. El análisis reflejó que las variedades de semillas mejoradas eran más preferidas que las variedades alternativas criollas, mostrando una WTP heterogénea para asegurar mayores rendimientos, resistencia a las enfermedades y mayor tamaño de la mazorca. Por último, en la última fase, se examinaron los determinantes de la tasa de adopción de las semillas mejoradas utilizando un análisis de supervivencia. Aproximadamente la decisión del 60% de los agricultores que adoptaron fue durante un período de 10 años. Los jóvenes agricultores con pocos miembros de la familia y varias generaciones agrícolas que mostraron actitudes positivas hacia la innovación y con una percepción de bajo riesgo probablemente adoptarán las nuevas variedades. Los resultados mostraron que el Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (TLCAN) en 1994 afectó negativamente la tasa de adopción de semillas mejoradas. Los resultados mostraron un bajo nivel de conocimiento de los agricultores hacia las ventajas de las semillas mejoradas. Es necesario mejorar las herramientas de extensión para el uso eficiente de insumos y prácticas agrícolas sostenibles para acelerar el proceso de adopción de semillas mejoradas y facilitar el acceso al financiamiento y seguros.

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Kariuki, Grace. "Determinants of intention to adopt maize drying technologies among small-scale farmers in Kenya." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28937.

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Maize, being the most common staple food across many parts of the world, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is, in most cases, preserved through sun drying techniques among small-scale farmers. This method is prone to significant losses, which could be avoided through the use of mechanised drying technologies. Unfortunately, many farmers in developing countries such as Kenya have yet to adopt this technique on a large scale. It is against this background that this research sought to identify the factors that influence the adoption of mechanised maize drying technologies among small-scale farmers in Kenya. This study was anchored in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), which offers a structured framework for predicting and explaining human behaviour based on personal attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. Financial constraints and the knowledge base of the farmers were also included in the analysis, as these are important factors in the likelihood of farmers adopting the technology. Data were collected by means of structured interviews with 397 farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. Correlation analysis was used to determine the strength, magnitude, and significance of the relationships between the variables. Ordered logit, a regression model, was used to determine the relationship between the independent variables, which were: financial resources, personal attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and knowledge, and the dependent variable, which was intention to adopt technologies. In addition, other control variables such as gender of the household head, farm size, age of the farmer, educational level of the household head and farm assets owned by the farmer were included as independent variables. The results indicated that 69.02 percent of farmers did not plan to utilise mechanised maize drying technologies, which is cause for concern from a policy perspective. The ordered logit results revealed that all the independent core factors significantly influenced adoption intentions. The farmers’ views related to their perceived behavioural control, and financial constraints negatively influenced their intentions to adopt mechanised maize drying technologies. Among the control variables, farm size and educational level positively influenced the adoption intention, while age had a negative influence. Based on these results, it is evident that there is a need to consider personal attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control of farmers, as well as the implementation of a nationwide campaign to encourage the adoption of mechanised maize drying techniques and a government strategy to bring the cost of credit down, while also ensuring its availability to small-scale farmers. The campaign will bridge the information gap and enhance adoption of mechanised maize drying technologies.

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Lameck, Christopher. "Impact of Agricultural Subsidies to Smallholder Maize Farmers of Mbeya District Concil in Tanzania." The Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1469112342.

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Chiromo, John. "The impact of farm input subsidies on economic efficiency of maize production in Malawi." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28359.

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The study analyzed the impact of the farm input subsidy programme (FISP) on the technical, allocative and economic efficiency and determining factors associated with these efficiencies of 12, 271 smallholder maize farmers from 2010 IHS3 dataset in Malawi. Descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier approach as and a Cobb-Douglas production function were applied. Yield responsiveness to production inputs was estimated by computing input elasticities. The findings indicate that technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers ranged from 15.7 to 78.9 with a mean of 61.3 percent reflecting a substantial level of inefficiency. The allocative efficiency scores were between 23.5 and 86.2 with a mean of 66.9 percent reflecting a substantial level of allocative inefficiency. The economic efficiency scores were between 14.1 and 74.6 with amean of 59.2 percent reflecting a substantial economical inefficiency. An estimated return to scale was 0.87 indicating that during the period under review, smallholder maize farming decreased by about 13 percent. The results of second stage Tobit regression estimations indicates that the FISP programme improved the efficiencies of maize farmers in Malawi. In addition, t farmers’ age, farming experience, education years, having an income generating activity and receiving remittance were also identified as significant drivers of production capacity of smallholder farmers maize. However, farmers’ marital status, family size and distance to the market had a negative impact on smallholder farmers’ capacity in maize production. Smallholder farmers in Malawi were experiencing a decreased return to scale meaning that they were technical, allocative and economically inefficient in maize production. From the findings, among other issues to be considered for the improvement of technical, allocative and economic efficiencies of maize production among smallholders farmers, the government should support only energetic farmers, make farm inputs available and accessible to farmers, continued advocacy on v adoption of family planning to reduce population growth to carter for scarcity of resources, increase and enhance extension services to help in educating these smallholder farmers in handling new technologies associated with modern agriculture, encourage them to engage in IGAs to complement FISP in purchasing farm inputs, increased and extended cash transfer program to economically empower these smallholder farmers.

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Johnston, Peter. "The uptake and utility of seasonal forecasting products for commercial maize farmers in South Africa." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4766.

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Fujisao, Kazuhiko. "A Study on Maize Productivity under Continuous Cultivation in Farmers’ Fields in Sainyabuli Province, Northern Laos." Kyoto University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/232345.

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Milindi, Paschal. "Improved Hermetic Grain Storage System for Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania." The Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1469166460.

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Njobvu, Idah. "Impacts of Maize Policy Changes on Small Scale Farmers' Vulnerability to Exploitation in Nyimba District, Zambia." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Geografisk institutt, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-17030.

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Taking cognisance of the fact that SSFs the major producers of maize in Zambia were most affected by the 1991 agricultural policy reforms, from 2005 onward, the state became very active in the maize market and production systems in order to mitigate their problems. The main objective of this study is to investigate to what extent the maize policy changes have contributed to the SSFs’ vulnerability to exploitation. This information will be of use in the policy formulation process to ensure that the formulation of policies take a holistic approach to mitigation of the SSFs’ vulnerabilities. The study draws from political economy, peasant rationality and risk aversion theories to explain the phenomenon under study. Qualitative research methodology was used to collect and analyse both the secondary and the primary data. The study indicates that the prevailing dual system where the state marketing system exists side by side with the private sector has resulted in forms of exploitation which can broadly be classified as petty and structural forms of exploitation. Several factors could be said to exacerbate SSFs’ vulnerability to exploitation such as FRA’s delay in opening its marketing season; delays in paying the SSFs’ for their maize by government/FRA; lack of monitoring of the FRA buying agents’ activities; SSFs’ passivity, and incomplete information.

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Lefophane, Mapula Hildah. "Comparative analysis of technical efficiency levels of emerging maize and green beans farmers with and without acess to formal agricultural credit along food value chains in Maruleng Municipality , Limpopo Province of South Africa." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/798.

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Lopez-Montes, Antonio JoseÌ. "Integrating farmers' knowledge and decision-making in the planning of participatory research of cassava/maize intercropping." Thesis, Bangor University, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.248899.

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Nkohla, Siviwe. "Factors that influence smallholder farmers maize varietal choice :the case of Mhlontlo Local Municipality Eastern Cape." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3121.

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In South Africa, maize is grown all over the country under various environments including both dry and irrigated agriculture. The majority of maize farmers are smallholders farming on small pieces of land with low input technologies. Additionally, South Africa`s smallholder maize farmers are characterised by low maize productivity, this is despite of the availability of many improved maize varieties on the market. It is clear that professional maize breeders are continuously developing many superior maize varieties with traits more suitable for the commercial farming sector than the smallholder sector. Against this background, this study used a descriptive statistics approach to find out maize varieties and traits preferred by smallholder farmers. The study also evaluated factors that influence smallholder farmers` maize varietal selection choice using descriptive statistics and multinomial regression. The data used for the empirical analysis was obtained from a survey of 200 smallholder farmers in Mhlontlo Local Municipality, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

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Baloi, Rebecca Tshilambilu. "Technical efficiency in maize production by small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba, Limpopo Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/486.

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Thesis (MSc. (Agriculture)) --University of Limpopo, 2011
Maize is the most important cereal crop grown in South Africa. This crop is produced throughout the country under diverse environments. The study only focuses on the technical efficiency because it is an important subject in developing agriculture where resources are limited, but high population growth is very common. Technical efficiency is the ability of a farmer to obtain output from a given set of physical inputs. Farmers have a tendency of under and/or overutilising the factors of production. The main aim of this study was to analyse the technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba rural community of Limpopo Province. The objective of the study was to determine the level of technical efficiency of smallscale maize producers and to identify the socio-economic characteristics that influence technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba. Purposive and Snowball sampling techniques were used to collect primary data from 120 small-scale farmers. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the level of technical efficiency and Logistic regression model was used to analyse the variables that have influence the technical efficiency of maize production. Cobb-Douglas results reveal that small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba are experiencing technical inefficiency in maize production due to the decreasing return to scale, which means they are over-utilising factors of production. Logistic regression results indicate that out of 13 variables included in the analysis as socio-economic factors, 10 of them (level of education, income of the household on monthly basis, farmer`s farming experience, farm size, cost of tractor hours, fertiliser application, purchased hybrid maize seeds, membership to farmers` organisation, is maize profitable) were found to be significant and 3 (gender, age and hired labour) are non-significant. However, farm size was found to be the vi most significant variable at 99% level, showing a positive relationship to smallscale maize producer`s technical efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended that government should do the on-farm training since farmers mainly depend on trial and error and farmers` should have access to enough arable land and tractor services. However, farmers need to be trained on matters relating to fertiliser application, on the amount of seeds a farmer should apply per ha, and the importance of using hybrid seed.

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19

Baloyi, Rebecca Tshilambilu. "Technical effeciency in maize production by small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba, Limpopo Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1253.

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Thesis (M.Agric. (Agricultural Economics)) --University of Limpopo, 2011
Maize is the most important cereal crop grown in South Africa. This crop is produced throughout the country under diverse environments. The study only focuses on the technical efficiency because it is an important subject in developing agriculture where resources are limited, but high population growth is very common. Technical efficiency is the ability of a farmer to obtain output from a given set of physical inputs. Farmers have a tendency of under and/or over- utilising the factors of production. The main aim of this study was to analyse the technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba rural community of Limpopo Province. The objective of the study was to determine the level of technical efficiency of small- scale maize producers and to identify the socio-economic characteristics that influence technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba. Purposive and Snowball sampling techniques were used to collect primary data from 120 small-scale farmers. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the level of technical efficiency and Logistic regression model was used to analyse the variables that have influence the technical efficiency of maize production. Cobb-Douglas results reveal that small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba are experiencing technical inefficiency in maize production due to the decreasing return to scale, which means they are over-utilising factors of production. Logistic regression results indicate that out of 13 variables included in the analysis as socio-economic factors, 10 of them (level of education, income of the household on monthly basis, farmer`s farming experience, farm size, cost of tractor hours, fertiliser application, purchased hybrid maize seeds, membership to farmers` organisation, is maize profitable) were found to be significant and 3 (gender, age and hired labour) are non-significant. However, farm size was found to be the most significant variable at 99% level, showing a positive relationship to small- scale maize producer`s technical efficiency.Therefore, it is recommended that government should do the on-farm training since farmers mainly depend on trial and error and farmers` should have access to enough arable land and tractor services. However, farmers need to be trained on matters relating to fertiliser application, on the amount of seeds a farmer should apply per ha, and the importance of using hybrid seed.

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20

Baloyi, Rebecca Tshelambilu. "Technical effeciency in maize production by small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba, Limpopo Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/882.

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Thesis (M.Sc. Agric.) --University of Limpopo, 2011
Maize is the most important cereal crop grown in South Africa. This crop is produced throughout the country under diverse environments. The study only focuses on the technical efficiency because it is an important subject in developing agriculture where resources are limited, but high population growth is very common. Technical efficiency is the ability of a farmer to obtain output from a given set of physical inputs. Farmers have a tendency of under and/or over- utilising the factors of production. The main aim of this study was to analyse the technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba rural community of Limpopo Province. The objective of the study was to determine the level of technical efficiency of small- scale maize producers and to identify the socio-economic characteristics that influence technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in Ga-Mothiba. Purposive and Snowball sampling techniques were used to collect primary data from 120 small-scale farmers. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the level of technical efficiency and Logistic regression model was used to analyse the variables that have influence the technical efficiency of maize production. Cobb-Douglas results reveal that small-scale farmers in Ga-Mothiba are experiencing technical inefficiency in maize production due to the decreasing return to scale, which means they are over-utilising factors of production. Logistic regression results indicate that out of 13 variables included in the analysis as socio-economic factors, 10 of them (level of education, income of the household on monthly basis, farmer`s farming experience, farm size, cost of tractor hours, fertiliser application, purchased hybrid maize seeds, membership to farmers` organisation, is maize profitable) were found to be significant and 3 (gender, age and hired labour) are non-significant. However, farm size was found to be the most significant variable at 99% level, showing a positive relationship to small- scale maize producer`s technical efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended that government should do the on-farm training since farmers mainly depend on trial and error and farmers` should have access to enough arable land and tractor services. However, farmers need to be trained on matters relating to fertiliser application, on the amount of seeds a farmer should apply per ha, and the importance of using hybrid seed.

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Mandikiana, Brian Washington. "The economics of Bt maize/yieldgard production: case of smallholder farmers in the Eastern Cape Province." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/326.

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Maize is the staple food for most South Africans. This implies that any damage to the maize crop will affect food security of many South Africans. Although Eastern Cape Province is not a traditionally maize producing area, smallholder farmers in the province produce it mostly for subsistence purposes and some sell the surplus on the local market or use it to secure other good through barter trading. In South Africa, insect-resistant Bt maize/yieldgard has been used commercially for approximately 10 years now. Available impact studies on Bt maize reveal that, this technology is beneficial not only to farmers but consumers of maize products as well. Welfare gains as well as positive effects for human health are realised by both groups. Due to the costs and effectiveness associated with traditional and conventional maize stem borer control methods, Bt technology has the potential to be part of the solution. This thesis has attempted to investigate the economic viability of planting Bt maize seeds under smallholder farming conditions and identify factors as well as perceptions relating to attributes of Bt maize and to analyze the relationships between those perceptions and choices regarding use of Bt technology. Data was collected from 90 households who were selected using purposive sampling through the use of the snowball method. To collect data, a questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. Gross margin analysis revealed that Bt maize is a more profitable option as compared to conventional maize seeds. Furthermore, econometric analyses, through use of the binomial regression model revealed that perceptions could be used to distinguish between users and non-users of Bt maize seed in the Eastern Cape Province. Results of inferential analysis indicate that the statistically significant variables at 5% level are gene erosion, quality and nutrition of products and food labels for Bt maize products perceptions. On the other hand, low expenses, seed market availability and farmers’ knowledge perceptions were significant at 10%. These findings suggest that an adjustment in each one of the significant variables can significantly influence the probability of Bt maize adoption. In view of the research findings, several policy proposals are suggested to support policy formulation. Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize, yieldgard, smallholder farmers, perceptions, Flagstaff, gross margin analysis, binomial logistic regression model, Eastern Cape Province.

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22

Van, der Westhuizen Liana. "Fumonisin exposure biomarkers in humans consuming maize staple diets." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6461.

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Thesis (PhD (MedSc))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fumonisins are carcinogenic mycotoxins which occur world-wide in maize and maize-based products intended for human consumption. Consumption of fumonisin contaminated maize as a staple diet has been associated with oesophageal and liver cancer incidence as well as neural tube defects. This study has confirmed the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil as another region where the consumption of maize contaminated with fumonisins and high oesophageal cancer incidence co-occur. Since fumonisins exert their main biochemical effect by disruption of the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway and are implicated in cancer, the role of fumonisin B1 (FB1) in FB1–induced rat hepatocyte nodules was investigated. The current study showed that FB1 exposure activated sphingosine accumulation in the nodules which could induce the bio-active sphingosine 1-phosphate to provide a selective growth stimulus on subsequent FB1 exposure. Since the FB1-induced hepatocyte nodules were not resistant to the disruption of sphingolipid biosynthesis, it was not the mechanism whereby the altered hepatocytes escaped the mitoinhibition of FB1 and selectively proliferated into hepatocyte nodules. A study in maize subsistence farming communities investigated the sphingosine and sphinganine levels in blood and urine of participants. Fumonisin exposure was assessed in these communities based on fumonisin levels in maize that was concurrently collected from the areas where the participants resided. Subsequently fumonisin exposure was assessed in individuals based on the fumonisin levels in maize collected from each household and by acquiring weighed food records for each member of the household. It was confirmed in both these studies that communities are chronically exposed to fumonisin levels well above the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake determined by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Since the sphinganine and sphingosine levels in blood and urine of the participants exposed to various levels of fumonisin were not significantly different, the sphingoid bases and their ratios could not be established as a biomarker of fumonisin exposure. Therefore, an alternative biomarker of exposure was investigated during studies into a practical cost effective method to reduce fumonisin. The customary maize food preparation practices were assessed in a maize subsistence farming community and subsequently optimised to reduce the fumonisin levels in the maize under laboratory-controlled conditions. Implementation of this optimised and culturally acceptable intervention method of sorting and washing maize in a rural community reduced fumonisin contamination in home-grown maize by 84%. The intervention study attained a 62% reduction in fumonisin exposure based on fumonisin levels in maize-based food and consumption as assessed by 24-h dietary recall questionnaires. The alternative biomarker of fumonisin exposure, urinary FB1, was investigated during the intervention study. The FB1 urinary biomarker measured fumonisin intake at the individual level and confirmed the reduction achieved as assessed by food analysis and food intake data. The biomarker was thus well correlated with fumonisin exposure and confirmed the efficacy of the simple and culturally acceptable intervention method. Utilisation of the urinary FB1 biomarker and the customised hand-sorting and washing of maize to reduce fumonisin exposures has the potential to improve food safety and health in subsistence maize farming communities.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Fumonisien is kankerverwekkende mikotoksiene wat wêreldwyd voorkom op mielies en mielie-verwante produkte bestem vir menslike verbruik. Daar is ‘n verband tussen die voorkoms van slukderm en lewer kanker, sowel as neuraalbuisdefekte, in gemeenskappe waar fumonisien-gekontamineerde mielies die stapel voedsel is. Die Brasiliaanse Staat, Santa Catarina is uitgewys as nog 'n area waar hoë voorkoms van slukdermkanker en hoë fumonisin vlakke in mielies gesamentlik voorkom. Aangesien fumonisien verbind word met van kanker en die hoof biochemiese effek die ontwrigting van die sfingolipiedbiosintese weg is, is die rol van fumonisien B1 (FB1) in FB1-geinduseerde rot hepatosietnodules ondersoek. Die studie het getoon dat FB1 blootstelling aktiveer sfingosien ophoping in die hepatosietnodules wat moontlik die bio-aktiewe sfingosien 1-fosfaat aktiveer om op daaropvolgende FB1 blootstellings geselekteerde groei stimulasie te ondergaan. Die FB1-geïnduseerde hepatosietnodules was nie bestand teen die inhibisie van die sfingolipied biosintese nie en dus nie die meganisme waardeur die veranderde hepatosiete mito- inhibisie van FB1 vryspring, en selektief ontwikkel in hepatosietnodules nie. ‘n Studie in bestaansboerdery gemeenskappe het die sfingosien en sfinganien vlakke in bloed en uriene vergelyk met individuele fumonisien blootstelling. Laasgenoemde is gebaseer op fumonisien vlakke in gekolleekterde mielies vanuit die deelnemers se huise en aannames vanuit die literatuur. Die opvolg studie in die areas het individuele fumonisien blootstelling bepaal gebaseer op fumonisien vlakke in die mielies van elke huishouding en die inname van mielies deur die voedsel van elke individu te weeg. Albei hierdie studies het bevestig dat die gemeenskappe blootgestel is aan kroniese fumonisien vlakke wat die maksimum toelaatbare daaglikse inname wat deur die gesamentlike FAO/WHO deskundige komitee op voedsel toevoegsels vasgestel is, oorskei. Aangesien die sfingosien en sfinganien vlakke nie beduidend verskil in bloed of uriene van mense wat aan verskillende fumonisien-kontaminasie vlakke blootgestel is nie, kan die lipiedbasisse en hul verhouding nie as ‘n biologiese merker vir fumonisien blootstelling bevestig word nie. Dus is ‘n alternatiewe biologiese merker vir fumonisien blootstelling ondersoek gedurende ‘n studie oor praktiese bekostigbare maniere om fumonisin blootstelling te verlaag. Die tradisionele voedsel voorbereidingspraktyke in ‘n bestaansboerdery gemeenskap is bestudeer en onder laboratorium-gekontroleerde toestande aangepas om fumonisien vlakke in die mielies optimaal te verlaag. Die kultureel aanvaarbare intervensie metode, sortering en was van die mielies, is in ‘n bestaansboerdery gemeenskap toegepas waar ‘n 84% verlaging in fumonisien vlakke van die mielies verkry is. Die intervensie metode het ‘n 62% verlaging in fumonisien blootstelling te weeggebring deur fumonisien vlakke in die mieliegebasserde disse te meet en inname daarvan deur die deelnemers met 24-h diëetkundige vraelyste vas t e stel. Gedurende die intervensie studie is urienêre FB1, die alternatiwe biologiese merker van fumonisien blootstelling, ondersoek. Individuele fumonisien blootstelling data, bepaal met die urienêre FB1 biomerker, het goed ooreengestem met die voedsel analise en voedsel inname data en het dus die doeltreffendheid van die praktiese kultuur aanvaarbare intervensie metode bevestig. Benutting van die FB1 urienêre biologies merker en die optimale sortering en was van die mielies om die fumonisien blootstelling te verlaag het die potensiaal om voedselveiligheid en gesondheid in hierdie bestaansboerdery gemeenskappe aansienlik te verbeter.

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Catarino, Rui. "Modelling the effect of Bt maize introduction on pest dynamics, insecticide use and economic returns to farmers." Thesis, University of Reading, 2016. http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/68713/.

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The use of genetically engineered (GE) crops promises to deliver remarkable results from an environmental, economic and human health point of view. Presently, the world area planted with GE crops is devoted mainly to three sorts of genetic alteration, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance (IR) or a combination of both. In this thesis, the discussion focuses on genetically engineered insect resistant (GEIR) crops expressing toxins from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) producing Crystalline (Cry). The prevailing scientific opinion is that although GEIR crops carry a certain degree of uncertainty, the potential risks are not considerably different to those associated with insecticides. Given the current understanding, the actual dispute about the risks is based mainly on the potential long-term effects, including gene slipover, development of pest resistance and the impact on non-target organisms. A further concern is that insect species that are not susceptible to the expressed toxin will develop into secondary pests and cause significant damage to the crop. In this thesis, the causes and impact of secondary pest outbreak are reviewed, analysed and incorporated within a novel bio-economic modelling framework. The bio-economic model takes into consideration the dynamics of two pest insects competing for the same resource and the resultant impact on maize farmers’ net returns. The modelling developed culminates with the inclusion of spatial features explicitly represented. The resulting bio-economic spatially explicit population model evaluates the development and impact of an invasive species that is not susceptible to the insecticide toxin expressed by the transgenic crop. This work provides insights and future recommendations for academic research, policy makers and farmers regarding the control and management of a new incursion of hazard (non-native) species. The research undertaken in this thesis aims to fill an important research gap on the impact of secondary pests GEIR crops, in particularly Bt maize. Overall, the results show that the use of Bt maize could indeed bring economic benefits to farmers while decreasing the burden of insecticides. It is also demonstrated that farmers need to be conscious of the possibility of an outbreak of a secondary pest and the consequences of this on yields and farm profits. Depending on several factors, it may take a number of years for secondary pests to proliferate to relevant levels of importance, thus the need to understand pest dynamics.

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Mahlase, Mankurwana H. "Exploring the uptake of genetically modified white maize by smallholder farmers: the case of Hlabisa, South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24452.

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The use of genetically modified (GM) crops to resolve food security and poverty issues has been met with controversy and scepticism. The rationale for this research was to highlight the nuanced reasons as to why smallholder farmers are motivated to use agricultural biotechnology. The aim of this study was to explore the uptake of GM maize by South African smallholder farmers in order to contribute towards understanding the implications of agricultural biotechnology in smallholder agriculture. Using the case studies of Hlabisa in KwaZulu-Natal, the objectives were; (i) to investigate the perceived benefits and problems associated with the uptake of GM maize. (ii) to identify which institutional, political, social, and environmental factors influence the choices and decisions made by smallholder farmers to grow GM maize and (iii) to assess how GM maize has affected the well-being of farmers, including social cohesion in the farming communities. The reason Hlabisa was selected for the case study is that it represents one of the few areas in South Africa where GM crops (white GM maize in particular) has been cultivated on a long term basis by smallholder farmers. The necessary information was obtained through the means of a survey in which a number of farmers in the Hlabisa area participated in this regard the participants were; 40 farmers who used white GM maize that possessed the herbicide tolerant and insect resistant traits; seven farmers who used white insect resistant maize and 11 non-GM maize farmers. In addition, five key informant interviews and three focus group discussions were used to collect data. The history of agriculture in the area reveals that modern maize varieties were introduced when agricultural extension officers started operating in the area, beginning with maize seed hybrids in the 1970s. Maize hybrids were framed as better varieties compared to traditional maize in terms of performance. Later, in the 2000s, the seed company Monsanto, and the local department of agriculture introduced various GM maize varieties through farmers' days. This marked the addition of another institution providing so-called expert knowledge about maize farming in Hlabisa. It was argued that relationships between the local department of agriculture, farmers' associations and seed companies were instrumental in encouraging the uptake of GM maize seeds. It is also posited that the GM maize farmers in this study received pseudo-extension and advisory services. These had the agenda of promoting GM maize varieties over traditional varieties, relaying inappropriate agricultural knowledge in the process. There was also a lack of transparency in communicating the potential health and environmental risks associated with GM maize farming. Farmers were unaware that they were legally not allowed to save and exchange the patented GM maize seeds and had to plant refugia to prevent insect resistance. The uptake of GM maize has not significantly affected the seed saving and exchange practices of farmers. Fifty-two percent (24) of the 47 respondents no longer exchanged or saved any of their maize seeds in the study. A chi-squared test for independence indicated that the GM maize farmers were less likely to save and exchange seeds. The non-GM maize farmers were deterred from planting GM crops by the expensive input costs. The issue of affordability of the GM technology also extended to GM farmers, most of whom used social grants to purchase their GM maize seeds. Forty-nine percent of these farmers were in debt due to their uptake of the GM maize. Despite this debt, 74% of respondents claimed that they had perceived an improvement in their quality of life after using white GM maize, as they harvested enough maize to last them to the next planting season and were able to sell surplus maize. However, they only made marginal profits to cover household expenses. There are several conclusions that can be drawn from this study. First, there is a noticeable shift from farmers relying on their own knowledge and experience to using that of seed companies and agricultural extension officers. Second, Seed companies are beginning to fill the gaps left by public extension and advisory institutions and farmers are vulnerable to making uninformed decisions as they are not given relevant information. It is recommended that farmers are given agency through the provision of transparent information. This should be the responsibility of the government and not seed companies with vested interests. The government should try to move away from the idea that farmers need to scale up production through using modern varieties. A better approach would be the strengthening of appropriate support and extension services for South African smallholder farmers who use various maize systems. Lastly there is a need to raise awareness about the social, economic and environmental implications to farmers who elect to use GM seeds.

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Mokgalabone, M. S. "Analyzing the technical and allocative efficiency of small-scale maize farmers in Tzaneen Municipality of Mopani District: a cobb-douglas and logistic regression approach." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1215.

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Thesis (M.Sc (Agricultural Economics)) --University of Limpopo, 2015
Agriculture plays an important role in uplifting the economy of South Africa. Small-scale farmers in rural areas are linked with poverty and operate inefficiently due to over or under utilization of some of the factors of production. This study aimed at analysing the technical and allocative efficiency of small-scale maize farmers in Tzaneen municipality. The objectives of the study were: (i) To assess the level of technical and allocative efficiency of small-scale maize farmers in Tzaneen municipality, (ii) To identify socio-economic factors affecting the efficiency of small-scale maize farmers in Tzaneen municipality and (iii) to investigate the areas of improvement with regard to the operational management of the small-scale maize farmers in Tzaneen municipality. The study employed the Cobb-Douglas production function and the logistic regression model to analyse data. The Cobb-Douglas production function results revealed that small-scale maize farmers in Tzaneen municipality are technically efficient in the production of maize with the highest mean technical efficiency value of 0.71%. The study further revealed that farmers were allocatively inefficient with a mean allocative efficiency value of 0.39%. The logistic regression analysis revealed important variables such as the level of education (1.05), experience in farming (2.74), access to irrigation water (0.59), purchase of hybrid seed (0.74), access to credit (2.13) and extension visits (0.85) were positively significant towards the efficiency of farmers. Variables such as gender of the farmer (-1.79) and off-farm income (-2.72) were found to be negatively significant towards the efficiency of small-scale maize farmers in Tzaneen Municipality. The findings obtained in this study could be quite useful to policy makers. This study recommend that there is a need for more visits from the extension officers as well as training on inputs allocation, since variables like Seed (0.41), fertilizer (0.17), capital (0.71) and expenses (-0.204) were found to be inefficiently allocated in the production of maize. The provision of easy, quick and adequate credit deserves to be a top priority on the agenda of policy makers since most small-scale maize farmers in Tzaneen municipality does not receive off-farm income. Small-scale farmers in Tzaneen municipality also need to have access to enough arable land in order to increase production. Small-scale farmers in South Africa and other developing countries contribute to employment creation and food security in the households, therefore, it is important that government fully support such farmers.

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Skjöldevald, Maja. "Small scale farmers’ access to and participation in markets : The case of the P4P program in western Kenya." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Kulturgeografiska institutionen, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-77185.

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The purpose of this thesis is to understand how small scale farmers navigate the market to access and participate in the formal maize market to improve their revenue, utilising the case of the P4P program inKenya. The empirical material was collected during fieldwork in Kenya. Qualitative methods were found to be the most suitable for this thesis. The methods that was utilised were a case study strategy, semi structured interviews, focus groups, observations and analysis of secondary sources. In this study different approaches about farmers’ organisations (FO) and small scale farmers’ access to and participation in markets have been utilised to create an analytical context. The study found that food markets in developing countries are lacking in infrastructure, market information and bank credit. The dynamics of the Kenyan market are even more complicated due to its two different marketing channels. Using collective action has the farmers overcome many of these limitations. One change is in the farmers’ mind set from viewing agriculture as a hobby to a business. The farmers have been criticised for defaulting on their contracts, whereas WFP has been criticised delays in payments. Some FO:s have been more successful than others which are a reflection of the barriers within the P4P program itself.

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Mohlahatsa, Taole. "The role of agricultural support programmes on the livelihoods of smallholder maize farmers in Lesotho: asset utilisation, productivity and perceptions." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71580.

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The agricultural sector is widely considered an important contributor to economic development in least developed countries. It plays an important role in Lesotho and has been the backbone of rural activities and the prime employer of Basotho citizens. Smallholder farming is recognised by the government of Lesotho as a vehicle for addressing food security and poverty reduction. Maize is the principal staple crop produced by about 90 percent of farmers in Lesotho and it constitutes about 80 percent of the Basotho diet. Maize production is highly affected by climate change and is characterised by fluctuating yields because of erratic rainfall. In addition to unfavorable climate change, smallholder farmers in Lesotho experience challenges such as lack of farming inputs, limited access to markets and limited financial capital. These constraints confine them to a life of subsistence farming with low production and increased incidences of poverty. The government of Lesotho has intervened in the smallholder agricultural sector to stimulate production and productivity by introducing some agricultural programmes such as (i) the National Fertiliser and Input subsidy, (ii) the Smallholder Agricultural Development Programme, (iii) the National Block Farming, and (iv) the Integrated Watershed Management Programme. However, despite such government interventions, production in the smallholder agricultural sector continues to face recurring constraints. Studies on the National Block Farming Programme have showed that the programme has had limited impact on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Furthermore, farmers believe the Integrated Watershed Management Programme has a biased selection criteria as selection of areas is influenced by politicians who favour areas where they have a large political following and marginilise other areas. These concerns have also led to low participation rates in such programmes as wealthier, large scale farmers capture most of the benefits of government programmes. Disproportionate benefits of agricultural programmes to smallholder farmers imply that they continue to face the same constraints in production and have to find alternative ways of maintaining production and selling excess produce to sustain their livelihoods. The main goal of this research is therefore to study the livelihoods of smallholder maize farmers in Lesotho and how agricultural support programmes influence their production of maize. The study adopted a pragmatic mixed methods approach with a qualitative dominant sequential design. Accordingly, both quantitative and qualitative data was used to address the research goal. Quantitative data collected from the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank was used for trend analysis on maize productivity, temperature and rainfall over the period 1980-2016. Qualitative primary data was collected by conducting focus group discussions with smallholder maize farmers and key stakeholder interviews using the sustainable livelihood framework as a conceptual guide. The study comprised of a total of 85 research participants consisting of 75 smallholder maize farmers and 10 key stakeholders. Farmers were selected from 10 key maize producing areas in Leribe and Mafeteng districts in Leribe. Results revealed fluctuating maize productivity and productivity growth rates where such fluctuations are caused by government intervention and natural calamities in the form of erratic rains and dry spells. Droughts and late arrival of subsidised inputs are the chief constraints to maize production. In relation to livelihood assets, human and social assets are the more available assets relative to other assets (financial, natural and physical) of the sustainable livelihood framework. Furthermore, the National Fertiliser and Input subsidy Programme and the Smallholder Agricultural Development Programme are the most beneficial programmes to farmers livelihoods as they increase the accessibility of limited livelihood assets and therefore allowing farmers to achieve their livelihood goals. In contrast, the National Block Farming and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme are the least beneficial programmes to farmers’ livelihoods and are biased in their geographical targeting criteria. The study recommends that the government revises all selected support programmes in this study in areas warranting improvements so as to fairly and efficiently allocate resources that meet the needs of farmers. The study also recommends that farmers put more effort in adopting new technologies and strategies to improve production of maize in areas where government intervention has failed.

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Mugambi, Caroline. "How smallhoder farmers cope with climate variability : case study of the Eastern slope of Mount Kenya." Thesis, Montpellier, SupAgro, 2012. http://www.theses.fr/2012NSAM0036.

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Pour plusieurs sociétés de part le monde, la sécurité alimentaire repose encore aujourd'hui sur une agriculture familiale. L'objectif de cette thèse est de décrire et d'analyser comment les agriculteurs font face à la variabilité climatique. Le versant est du Mont Kenya est caractérisé par une forte variabilité climatique, sociale et culturelle. Les systèmes agricoles intègrent une diversité d'espèces et de variétés. Sans irrigation, ils dépendent exclusivement de la pluviométrie. Une double approche comparative a été utilisée pour isoler les facteurs sociaux et environnementaux dans notre analyse, en comparant trois altitudes (750 m, 950 m et 1100 m) et deux sociétés (Mwimbi et Tharaka). La diversité au niveau inter et intra spécifique est structurée en fonction de l'altitude et des communautés. Le savoir traditionnel des agriculteurs concernant les climats passés s'avère précis lorsqu'on le compare aux données pluviométriques. Avec l'adoption du maïs au détriment du sorgho et du mil, l'évolution des systèmes de cultures a induit un risque plus élevé aujourd'hui qu'auparavant de perdre des variétés lors des sécheresses. Cependant, l'effet négatif de la variabilité climatique n'est pas homogène; les agriculteurs, par leur savoir et leurs pratiques, atténuent l'effet de la variabilité climatique sur les plantes cultivées. Les dates de semis sont variables pour garantir l'humidité adéquate pour la germination des graines en début de saison des pluies. L'adaptabilité génétique des semences diffèrent fort probablement selon les communautés, certaines évoluant depuis plusieurs années en zones très arides (Tharaka à 750 m) alors que d'autres sont plus familières avec des climats plus cléments (Mwimbi à 1100 m). Les agriculteurs font donc face à la variabilité climatique avec des ressources génétiques qu'ils gèrent et reproduisent historiquement. L'interaction des facteurs sociaux, écologiques, historiques et génétiques devraient davantage être considérée dans les programmes d'amélioration variétale pour faire face à la variabilité climatique
Smallholder systems are fundamental to food security for many societies but have largely remained under considered. The aim of this study was to describe how farmers in smallholder farming systems cope with climate variability. The eastern slope of Mount Kenya is characterized by high climate, social and cultural variability. Farmers practice rain-fed agriculture favouring multi-crops. A double comparative approach was implemented in order to isolate environmental and social factors, by comparing three altitudinal levels and two societies (Mwimbi and Tharaka). Crop diversity is both environmentally and socially structured. Farmers' climate knowledge is highly accurate in the light of climate rainfall records. Farming systems are also highly dynamic over time, in favor of maize and at the expense of sorghum and millet. This cropping system dynamic has induced an increasing risk of losing local farmers' varieties during drought from 1961 to 2006. However, rainfall variations and droughts do not cause seed losses homogenously, as societies interfere between crop and climate. Various sowing dates are practiced to favour the moisture conditions for the crop at germination. Seed genetic adaptability probably differs between communities, as some are usually exposed to droughts (Tharaka at 750 m) whereas others usually evolve in more favorable climatic environment (Mwimbi at 1100 m).Smallholder farmers thus cope with climatic variability with the crop genetic resources that they historically manage. Interaction between social, ecological, historical and genetic factors must be better reflected in crop genetic sampling strategies used in breeding programs to foster genetic adaptation to climate variability

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Mwila, C. "The adoption of improved agricultural technology on farms in Zambia : A comparative analysis of factors affecting the use of hybrid maize technology among farmers of Mpika and Mkushi districts." Thesis, University of Bradford, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.372176.

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Mwangana, Namulula. "Evaluating trade-offs between agricultural productivity and long-term ecosystem services provision among maize farmers practising conventional and conservation agriculture in Kafue Zambia." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60844.

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Maize is a staple crop and underpins food security for Zambia. Maize productivity in Zambia is almost half the potential due to low uptake of conservation agricultural practices. This study tests the hypothesis of the trade-offs between agriculture productivity and long-term ecosystem services (ES) provision among maize farmers practising conventional agriculture on the one hand, and those practising conservation agriculture on the other hand, in Kafue district, Zambia. In addition, challenges which affect conservation agriculture uptake are assessed. Besides these challenges, the study notes that adoption of a new technology is also influenced by its efficiency, and therefore technical efficiency scores were estimated using the Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA) to compare efficiency levels of the two agricultural systems. Kafue was purposefully selected as it is among the first districts where conservation agriculture was introduced. Through purposive and random sampling, the households surveyed were split into two distinct groups namely conservation agriculture (CA) farmers (treatment group) and conventional agriculture (CV) farmers (control group). The analysis significantly shows that farmers practicing CA have more knowledge than CV farmers about the capacity of conservation agriculture to reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, retain nutrients, mitigate pests and weeds and increase crop yield. However, both farming groups knew that CA helps conserve soils and that soil maintenance is important for food production. On the other hand, significantly, CV farmers knew more than CA farmers that CV reduces crop yield and increases soil erosion. On the other hand, CV farmers expressed a higher level of willingness to adopt CA practices than CA farmers who are unwilling to expand their area under CA. The study further shows that at least 55% of farmers practicing CA find inadequate labour to be the main challenge faced in CA. It appears that a policy that improves the farmers' knowledge on CA would help improve the uptake of CA. CA farmers were significantly more knowledgeable than CV farmers about the detrimental effects of CV, such as increasing air and water pollution, thus raising the need for training among CV farmers with emphasis on the effects of their farming system on the environment which affect the supply of ecosystem services. Efficiency is also a means of improving productivity hence the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) was employed to estimate technical efficiency levels in maize production. Using SFA, the study found that the technical efficiency of maize among CV farmers is 71.3% on average while that of CA farmers is 57.9% on average. Moreover, the study found that there was a significant difference (t=3.9854, P=0.0002) in the technical efficiency scores of the both CV and CA farmers. Nevertheless, the study also found that 77% of output variation among CA farmers can be explained by variation in technical efficiency. However, 33.4 % of total maize output can be explained by variation in technical efficiency among CV farmers. This means that CA farmers have a higher potential to increase their current output than CV farmers. Finally there was no significant difference in fertiliser usage between CA and CV farmers (t=1.3825, P=0.1700). Further, from SFA fertiliser responsiveness to maize output showed that a 1% increase in the use of synthetic fertiliser leads to 0.678% and 0% increase in maize output per hectare for CA and CV respectively at both 1% and 10% level of significance at the expense of water and air quality. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a higher trade-off between maize production and water and air quality under conventional than under conservation agriculture.
Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
MSc (Agric)
Unrestricted

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Wainaina, Priscilla [Verfasser], Matin [Akademischer Betreuer] Qaim, Bernhard [Gutachter] Brümmer, and Meike [Gutachter] Wollni. "Tradeoffs, Complementarities and Synergies between Different Agricultural Technologies: Insights from Maize Farmers in Kenya / Priscilla Wainaina. Betreuer: Matin Qaim. Gutachter: Bernhard Brümmer ; Meike Wollni." Göttingen : Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen, 2016. http://d-nb.info/1102536008/34.

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Kadango, Tendayi Lovemore. "Farmers' perceptions of insect pests in the Eastern Cape maize-based cropping systems and the effects of crop residue management on insect pest populations." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6202.

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Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops in South Africa that is cultivated for food, feed and as a cash crop. Maize in the Eastern Cape is typically grown for consumption and the Province is one of the least producers owing to small landholdings, poor production conditions and pests. This study investigated: (i) the different maize cropping systems smallholder farmers practice in the Eastern Cape (EC), (ii) the major maize insect pests within the identified cropping systems, (iii) the perceptions of Eastern Cape smallholder maize farmers on the effects of insect pests, and (iv) the effects of crop residues on insect pests’ population dynamics. Four major cropping systems namely: maize sole cropping without rotations by government sponsored farmers (GCP) (94 percent), maize intercropping without rotations by independent farmers (IF) (79 percent), maize sole cropping without rotations by IF (67 percent) and maize intercropping without rotations by GCP (61 percent) were identified. The choice of a cropping system by the smallholder farmers was significantly influenced by source of sponsorship, the difference in their district localities, tenure system, availability of inputs and farming equipment, percentage of farmland farmers allocate to maize, maize varieties, farming experience, fallow operations and access to irrigation facilities. The major constraints faced by the farmers in maize production are the attack by insect pests, weeds competition, drought, the lack of fencing around the fields and destruction by mammals. The major insect pests identified were stalk borers (Busseola fusca, Chilo partellus), cutworms (Agrotis spp.), aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis), bollworms (Helicoverpa armigera) and weevils (Sitophylus spp.). The most popular control measures employed were the use of GM maize and pesticides. Results from the field trial showed that field crickets were the major ground dwelling insect pests observed followed by bollworms and cutworms. However, there were no significant influence of residue retention on the insects’ diversity indices, richness, and evenness. Above ground insects sampling revealed the domination by four major insects namely, cutworms, maize stalk borer, bollworms, and spotted stalk borer. Residue management significantly influenced the infestation by spotted stalk borer only on maize plots. However, the general trend was that there was less infestation by the insects in plots where residues were retained than the ones with residue removed. Results from the study indicate that government sponsorship is significantly influencing the maize cropping systems of the smallholder farmers of the Eastern Cape.

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Skenjana, Nolitha Leonora. "Identification and documentation of ethnobiological methods used by rural farmers to control stalk borers on maize in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019852.

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Maize contributes substantially to food security in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is a staple food to many of the province’s rural and urban inhabitants. Insect pests are one of the factors that hamper its productivity and as a result, deprive farmers of good yields. The adverse effects of insecticides and the high cost associated with them and the cost of transgenic seeds are some of the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in rural areas. Alternative control methods which include the use of indigenous techniques to control pests are now sought. A study to identify and document ethnobiological means used by rural farmers to manage insect pests of maize was conducted in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. A total of 217 participants were interviewed on the matter, using semi-structured but detailed questionnaires. Rural farmers due to their linkage to agriculture activities and the fact that they are considered as custodians of agricultural indigenous knowledge were selected as respondents. Only maize producing and IsiXhosa speaking people were chosen to contribute. Main focus was on the demography of respondents, crop production activities and insect pest control. Pretesting of the questionnaire in order to assess the appropriateness of questions and comprehension by both farmers and enumerators was done. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Fifty five percent (55 %) of the respondents were females and the highest number of participants was from the Chris Hani District Municipality. Majority of the people were unemployed or pensioners. Most had only attended primary school and the mean age was 59 years. Apart from maize, respondents were cultivating other crops such as cabbage, Swiss chard, potatoes etc. Stalk borers followed by cutworms were the main pests of maize in these areas. Respondents used mainly insecticides, followed by alternative substances, which also included cultural control methods such as planting date manipulation. Few respondents used plants as control agents for insect pests. Some people did not control pests even though they were a problem in their fields. The most used plant was Chenopodium ambrosiodes L, while the most used substance was Madubula (a detergent). The most used insecticide was carbaryl from the carbamite family. Respondents listed different preparation techniques for all the control methods mentioned. These techniques revealed different times of preparation, quantities of ingredients, amounts applied on plants, modes of application and intervals of application. Rural farmers in the study areas used different atypical methods which may play a significant role in pest management today. Some of the products may have a positive influence on agriculture, while some are dangerous to humans and environmental health. Further research which will investigate their potential use in pest control needs to be done.

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Kganyago, Mpho Clementine. "Understanding farmer seed systems in Sespond, North West Province." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32486.

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Farmer-led seed systems (FSS) provide the backbone for small-scale farmers and many rural communities that use traditional methods of farming to produce seeds that grow and adapt to local conditions. FSS differ from one community and farmer to the next, depending on the methods and practices used to maintain seed varieties. Seed diversity can enhance FSS by improving livelihoods and strengthening farmers' networks, thus contributing to resilient communities. Although nuanced, the dualistic agricultural system in South Africa consists largely of subsistence (small-scale) and commercial (large-scale) farming and includes different crop management systems and post-harvest practices. In South Africa, maize (Zea mays) is a major staple grain crop with a significant role as animal and poultry feed. The North West region is one of the highest white-maize-producing provinces in South Africa. Maize seed systems include both traditional, openpollinated varieties (OPVs) and cultivars such as modern hybrids and genetically modified (GM) seed varieties, including those engineered for specific purposes. The dominant GM maize is that designated for pest resistance using Bacillus thuringienesis (Bt), a soil bacterium which produces a toxin that is fatal to a wide variety of insects such as moths and flies. Many small-scale farmers prefer their own traditional seeds for breeding, planting, selection, selling and consuming. However, FSS based on traditional varieties are threatened by modern cultivars which may be introduced in different ways including through seed exchange, purchasing at shops or by pollination from nearby commercial farms. This study was conducted in the Sespond community of the North West Province. The aim of the study was to understand how small-scale farmers in Sespond maintain traditional maize varieties through selection and storage in a complex agricultural landscape that incorporates both formal and informal seed systems. The formal system represents industrialised farms and companies that work with commercial seed. The informal system represents small-scale farmers who rely on their own seed. Qualitative methods included mapping software which was used to obtain visual agricultural data in and around Sespond. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 small-scale farmers to collect information about their farming practices, including the maize varieties planted. Quantitative methods included collecting 20 maize samples from different farmers for genetic analysis. Agdia® immunostrip tests were used to detect for the presence of Crystal protein (Cry protein) produced by the Bt bacterium, engineered to improve the resistance of maize against insects. The results showed that 13 samples were negative for the protein and seven samples were positive for the protein. A key finding is that small-scale farmers are not able to detect the different maize varieties in their seed systems. This represents a threat for traditional seed varieties in the community as without this knowledge, farmers are not able to adequately manage their production and storage systems. Farmers made use of alternative storage methods such as the mill to reduce seed damage they experienced at home. However, the findings of this research showed that there was an increasing risk of farmers' traditional maize being mixed with GM maize at the mill. Farmers' rights to plant and consume traditional maize were therefore undermined. This study recommends that (a) efforts are made to increase awareness among farmers that help to distinguish transgenes from hybrids and traditional maize varieties; (b) measures are implemented at mills to both improve the transparency about the storage and processing of traditional maize and to separate traditional maize from hybrid and GM maize.

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Nxumalo, Bongiwe Goodness. "The analysis of the economic impact of climate change on maize production under different farming systems: the case of smallholder Farmers in Jozini Municipality, KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021277.

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Maize is the most grown crop by the farmers in Jozini. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to assess the economic impact of climate change on maize production under different farming systems in Jozini Municipality in KwaZulu Natal (KZN). The study was looking at the smallholder farmers producing maize under dryland and irrigation system. A total of 100 farmers were selected for the study (40 from dry-land and 60 from irrigating farmers). Cluster and random sampling procedures were used to select the sample. Questionnaires were used for the collection of primary data, from the respondents (maize farmers). Data was analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentages), gross margin, regression analysis and the Ricardian model. Data for computing gross margins and net revenue was taken from the on-farm trials. Gross margin was used on regression analysis and the net revenue was used on the Ricardian modelThe results of the regression analysis indicated that land size, farmer’s experience to farming, level of education, use of fertiliser, use of irrigation and the yield obtained were significant and have a positive relationship with farmers gross margin. The results of the Ricardian model indicated that climate change affects both farming systems, but farmers that are producing under dryland are the most affected farmers because they rely more on climate variables especially rainfall for their production. So a change in climate variables affects maize farmers’ productivity and thus affecting farmers’ gross margin and net revenue. The study recommends that the farmers must use irrigation in order to support maize production even in the absence of rainfall. Farmers must also adapt to the short growing season so that they will be able to produce even in the presence of climate change.

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Dang, Lili. "Consumers' Accessibility, Opinions, and Behaviors Toward Farmers' Market in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties, Maine." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2004. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/DangL2004.pdf.

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Soleri, Daniela. "Developing methodologies to understand farmer-managed maize folk varieties and farmer seed selection in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/284781.

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Collaborative plant breeding (CPB) is an approach to crop improvement incorporating close attention to local biophysical and sociocultural environments and interaction between farmers and plant breeders. CPB may have particular potential for improvement in highly stress-prone environments and for low-resource, traditionally based agricultural communities, situations where more conventional approaches have not been effective. However, CPB will require methodological adjustments or innovations relevant to the smaller scale of its target area and its participatory approach. This study investigated methodologies useful to CPB, working with maize farmers from two communities in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico. A method for rapid estimation of broad sense heritability (H) was applied in farmers' maize fields. H estimates for morphophenological traits were compared with narrow sense heritability (h2) from half sib family analysis of five of the same populations and with published estimates. Absolute values of H were larger than h2 from this study and the literature, however trait ranking was the same as in the literature, but differed from h2 rankings from this study. With an understanding of their limitations, these rapid, economical estimations provide useful information for CPB work on-farm, where empirical information is frequently lacking. Collegial interaction based on the knowledge and skills of farmers and breeders will depend upon understanding those in terms relevant to each group. Methods from social and biological sciences were integrated to understand selection and its consequences from farmers' perspectives but based on concepts used by plant breeders. Information was elicited regarding farmers' perceptions of their maize populations, growing environments and expectations for response to selection. Farmers' decisions about varietal repertoires imply assessments of local genetic and environmental variation. Traits of high and low heritability are distinguished, as reflected in expected selection response. Farmers' selection practices were not always effective yet they understood the reasons for this and had no expectations for selection response in some traits given the methods available. Farmers' statements, practices and perceptions regarding selection and the genetic response of their maize populations to their selection indicate selection objectives different than may be typically assumed, suggesting a role for breeder and farmer collaboration.

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Hancock, Adam David. "Effects of credit and credit access on smallholder maize farmer storage behavior in northern Ghana." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/20552.

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Master of Science
Department of Agricultural Economics
Vincent Amanor-Boadu
Food insecurity affects 16 percent of the population in northern Ghana, making food security a major focus for many of the development programs in the country. A major initiative to overcome food insecurity may involve the development of effective storage systems to help farmers control the flow of their production to markets and, thus, have higher control over the price they receive. While the poor storage infrastructure in the region is known, there is lack of knowledge about the factors motivating farmers to utilize storage in spite of these conditions. The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding about storage behavior of smallholder maize farmers in northern Ghana. A review of the literature indicates credit plays a large role in storage behavior. The purpose of this thesis is to bridge the gap between literature on storage as a bank, and on storage as a way to ensure food security. Specific objectives include: i) estimating formal and informal credit’s effects on storage behavior of smallholder maize growers, and ii) examining the effect of credit at various levels of storage. This analysis is based on data collected on 527 farmers in Ghana’s four northernmost regions obtained from an agricultural production survey conducted in 2013 and 2014 by USAID-METSS – a project funded by the Economic Growth Office of the USAID mission in Ghana. Ordinary Least Squares modeling was employed to determine the marginal effects of formal and informal credit on storage. Additionally, quantile regression modeling estimated the marginal effects at different levels of storage, including the median. The results indicate that formal credit and on-farm storage had statistically significant negative effects on maize storage at both the mean and median, but only farm output proved to be statistically significant at different levels across the storage distribution. On-farm storage had a statistically significant negative effect on storage when compared to storing off-farm at facilities like local store rooms. Carryover storage from the previous year tested to have statistically significant negative effects on storage. Under the conceptual framework utilized for this study, the results suggest that using formal credit increases a household’s food security.

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Olson, Kathryn Ann. "Farms, fish & forests: An ethnography of climate change in Maine." Thesis, Boston College, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:109035.

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Thesis advisor: Juliet B. Schor
Social science scholarship on climate change increasingly situates global climate change in the everyday experiences, practices, and knowledges of individuals and communities in local landscapes. Although climate change is a global phenomenon, it is experienced, negotiated, and adapted to at the local scale. In this dissertation, I situate and emplace global climate change in the everyday experiences and practices of people with land- and sea-based livelihoods in Maine. Maine is, in many ways, at the forefront of the climate crisis, and farmers, fishers and foresters—with their ongoing, intimate knowledge of and relations with particular places—are experiencing climate change and making meaning of its impacts. The aim of the dissertation, broadly conceived, is to particularize climate change and locate it in the embodied relations of people and places in Maine. I draw from several bodies of scholarship to locate the study of livelihoods and global climate change in Maine. First, I utilize the work of James O’Connor, Raymond Williams, and contemporary livelihoods scholars to position analysis of climate change impacts within broader historic relations of land and labor. Second, hybrid materialist perspectives, as well as relational perspectives on place, help to understand global climate change as a constellation of interrelated, but distinctly localized manifestations of a translocal process. Methodologically, I employ climate ethnography, which broadens the ethnographic lens to the more-than-human world. I draw from 45 ethnographic interviews, extensive participant-observation, a participant survey, and participant photography to co-investigate the profound ecological shifts farmers, fishers, and foresters are experiencing. I also employ public sociology to communicate data through creative nonfiction, art, and various public events. The dissertation probes how climate meanings are locally constructed and shaped by repeated encounters within multispecies communities in place. In addition, it documents the ways in which livelihood conditions in Maine are entangled with processes of gentrification and shifting economic conditions that, along with climate change, are putting additional pressures on nature-based livelihoods there. The dissertation contributes to an understanding of how climate change is a bundle of processes that cannot be neatly separated as natural or social. It also demonstrates the central role of livelihoods—and their contingent identities—in understanding and adapting to climate change. Ultimately, the dissertation bears witness to precarious land- and sea -based livelihoods, and agitates for greater attention to ways in which people, places, and climate change are irrevocably bound
Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2021
Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: Sociology

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Giles, Peter H. "Management of insect pests of farmed-stored maize in Kenya, with particular reference to Prostephanus truncatus (Horn)." Thesis, University of Reading, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.267426.

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Muchilwa, Isaiah Etemo [Verfasser]. "Sensor psychrometric approaches to mitigating aflatoxins in maize dried on farms in Kenya / Isaiah Etemo Muchilwa." Kassel : Universitätsbibliothek Kassel, 2017. http://d-nb.info/1126469742/34.

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Salazar, Francisco Javier. "Nitrogen losses and utilisation in grass and maize systems fertilised with different cattle manures : implications for Chilean dairy farms." Thesis, University of Reading, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.343326.

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Kotey, Daniel Ashie. "Genetically modified (GM) maize cultivation by smallholders in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: Effects on target and non-target organisms and adoption challenges." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5161.

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The use of genetically modified (GM) maize technology is subject to compliance with stewardship requirements and the adoption of specific management practices that promote the long-term effectiveness and environmental sustainability of the technology. For smallholders to comply with these requirements and adopt the desired management practices to ultimately benefit from the technology, they require information that creates awareness of the value of these requirements. To determine what information farmers receive about GM maize and how this information is disseminated to farmers, face to face interviews were conducted with 81 extension personnel and 210 smallhoder GM maize farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The effect of Bt maize introduction and management practices in smallholder maize agroecosystems in the Eastern Cape on Bt maize target [Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] and non-target insect pests [Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] and a snail species, [Cornu aspersum (Müller) (Gastropoda: Helicidae)] was determined through laboratory, field and cage experiments. The effect of smallhoder farmers‟ GM maize cultivation practices on the profitability of GM maize technology was also determined through on-farm trials in different localities of the Eastern Cape identified as hot-spots for stem borer and weed infestation. Results of surveys indicated that extension personnel had a low level of awareness of GM maize technology stewardship requirements. GM maize technology was also largely disseminated to smallholder farmers through non-participatory approaches and print media sourced from GM seed companies. Although farmers had a high level of contact with extension services, they lacked access to information about GM maize technology. Smallholder farmers‟ level of awareness about GM maize and compliance with the requirement for the planting of non-Bt maize refuge areas adjacent to Bt maize was also very low. While Bt maize event (MON810) commonly cultivated by smallholder farmers in the Eastern Cape Province had a variable effect on A. segetum under laboratory conditions, it had no effect on the incidence of plants damaged by A. segetum and C. aspersum under field conditions. The incidence of H. armigera damage on Bt maize plants was however significantly affected by Bt maize. Populations of B. fusca collected from smallholder maize fields in the province were observed to be still highly susceptible to Bt maize. Results of on-farm evaluation of the profitability of GM maize revealed that stem borer pressure, growing conditions, input supplies and market access affect the productivity and profitability of GM maize cultivation. Challenges within the extension and advisory services of the Eastern Cape which can militate against smallholder farmers‟ ability to benefit from GM maize technology and sustain the long-term efficacy of the technology were identified during this study. Given these challenges and the fact that the cultivation of GM maize may not be profitable under typical smallholder maize cultivation conditions and management practices, dissemination approaches that provide farmers the opportunity to evaluate GM maize technology alongside alternate technologies under their conditions, may prove beneficial.

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Brown, Andrew D. "Looking Outward from the Village: The Contingencies of Soil Moisture on the Prehistoric Farmed Landscape near Goodman Point Pueblo." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2016. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc862755/.

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Ancestral Pueblo communities of the central Mesa Verde region (CMVR) became increasingly reliant on agriculture for their subsistence needs during Basketmaker III (BMIII) through Terminal Pueblo III (TPIII) (AD 600–1300) periods. Researchers have been studying the Ancestral Pueblo people for over a century using a variety of methods to understand the relationships between climate, agriculture, population, and settlement patterns. While these methods and research have produced a well-developed cultural history of the region, studies at a smaller scale are still needed to understand the changes in farming behavior and the distribution of individual sites across the CMVR. Soil moisture is the limiting factor for crop growth in the semi-arid region of the Goodman Watershed in the CMVR. Thus, I constructed the soil moisture proxy model (SMPM) that is on a local scale and focuses on variables relevant to soil moisture – soil particle-size, soil depth, slope, and aspect. From the SMPM output, the areas of very high soil moisture are assumed to represent desirable farmland locations. I describe the relationship between very high soil moisture and site locations, then I infer the relevance of that relationship to settlement patterns and how those patterns changed over time (BMIII – TPIII). The results of the model and its application help to clarify how Ancestral Pueblo people changed as local farming communities. The results of this study indicates that farmers shifted away from use of preferred farmland during Terminal Pueblo III, which may have been caused by other cultural factors. The general outcome of this thesis is an improved understanding of human-environmental relationships on the local landscape in the CMVR.

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"Perceptions of Climate Trends among Mexican Maize Farmers." Master's thesis, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.34838.

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abstract: Perceptions of climate variability and change reflect local concerns and the actual impacts of climate phenomena on people's lives. Perceptions are the bases of people's decisions to act, and they determine what adaptive measures will be taken. But perceptions of climate may not always be aligned with scientific observations because they are influenced by socio-economic and ecological variables. To find sustainability solutions to climate-change challenges, researchers and policy makers need to understand people's perceptions so that they can account for likely responses. Being able to anticipate responses will increase decision-makers' capacities to create policies that support effective adaptation strategies. I analyzed Mexican maize farmers' perceptions of drought variability as a proxy for their perceptions of climate variability and change. I identified the factors that contribute to the perception of changing drought frequency among farmers in the states of Chiapas, Mexico, and Sinaloa. I conducted Chi-square tests and Logit regression analyses using data from a survey of 1092 maize-producing households in the three states. Results showed that indigenous identity, receipt of credits or loans, and maize-type planted were the variables that most strongly influenced perceptions of drought frequency. The results suggest that climate-adaptation policy will need to consider the social and institutional contexts of farmers' decision-making, as well as the agronomic options for smallholders in each state.
Dissertation/Thesis
Masters Thesis Sustainability 2015

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46

Marava, Garikai. "Assessment of weed control methods for maize production by emerging farmers on commercial farms." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/57257.

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Maize (Zea mays L) is a staple food crop grown in South Africa by both large scale commercial and smallholder farmers. During the 2013/14 cropping season maize occupied about 2.6 million hectares of the total 3.9 million hectares of arable land that was under field crops in South Africa. Maize accounted for about 12.4 million tonnes of the 14.4 million tonnes of all field crops produced. Excessive competition from weeds is a major constraint, reducing maize yield and farmer income. Resource poor and inexperienced emerging farmers who have acquired land through the government land redistribution programmes are particularly affected. To date about 5.7 million hectares of land have been transferred to about 4.2 million black (previously disadvantaged) emerging farmers. Although emerging farmers have several options available for weed control, these still need to be appraised with regards to benefits, in the form of grain yield measured against the cost of weed management. An on-farm study was carried out at two sites in the North West province of South Africa during the 2011/12 and 2013/14 cropping seasons. The objectives were:- ? To determine the effect of different weed control methods on maize yields of emerging farmers at two localities in the North West province. ? To identify the most competitive or problematic weed species at two localities in the North West province. ? To compare the economic benefit of different weed control methods at the two localities. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot randomised block design. A stacked gene (stalk borer and herbicides resistance) and a conventional maize cultivar were planted in strips. Eight weed control methods that included hand-weeding, mechanical, chemical (herbicides) and combinations of these methods were randomly allocated across the strips. Weed species were counted and crop heights were recorded at three and eight weeks after crop emergence (WACE). Weed dry biomass was also determined. Grain yield and the yield components of ear mass and 100 kernels mass were recorded. A cost-benefit analysis of these weed control methods was carried out in the context of total production costs. The highest maize grain yields were obtained, where weed competitive effects were satisfactorily suppressed. The clean field and pre- and post-emergence herbicides methods produced the highest grain yields in the two seasons. In the first season the highest grain yields obtained were 73% higher than the lowest yield in no-weeding method for both cultivars. The second season was characterized by below average and erratic rainfall. The stacked gene cultivar outperformed the conventional cultivar by 63% where weeds were effectively controlled. Weed competition seemed to cancel the superiority of the stacked gene cultivar over the conventional cultivar in a drier season. The cost-benefit analysis revealed that a single cultivation operation at six WACE was the cheapest method, costing only R 495 ha-1 irrespective of the cultivar used. Keeping a clean field throughout the season was the most costly endeavour, at R 2 528 ha-1 and R 2 174 ha-1 for the conventional and the stacked gene cultivar respectively. The use of both pre- and post-emergence herbicides on stacked gene cultivars can provide farmers with a return of up to R 2.60 for every R 1 invested. Controlling weeds in a conventional maize cultivar, using tractor-drawn cultivator at six WACE, can give a return of up to R 1.64 for every R 1 invested. The weed control methods that provide the highest grain yields are not necessarily the most cost effective. It is preliminarily recommended that chemical weed control methods be considered if stacked gene cultivars are to be planted. However, mechanical weed control methods must be considered when planting conventional cultivars. The present study needs to be intensified, covering a wider geographical extent, to cater for variation that can be expected as a result of differences in climate, soil type and weed spectra.
Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
tm2016
Plant Production and Soil Science
MSc Agric
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47

Matlou, Malose Charles. "Analysis of the adoption of maize biotechnology by developing maize farmers of Gauteng Province South Africa." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/22789.

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Science and technology can help feed the ever-growing human population. Green Revolution, still under critique, helped to certain extent, to reduce poverty in Asia. Biotechnology is not a solution to all problems but could be used in conjunction with other new technologies, to feed Africa. The adoption of biotechnology by farmers throughout the world, and by African farmers in particular, could help Africans to farm successfully without asking for food aid from other continents. The study analysed the adoption of maize biotechnology by developing maize farmers of Gauteng Province, South Africa. Primary data was collected through a survey (using a structured questionnaire) from 121 maize farmers from 2011 to 2014 maize production seasons. Data was analysed using SPSS computer software for descriptive statistics, rate of adoption and logit function to determine factors influencing adoption of Bt maize by farmers. The results of the descriptive analysis showed that 54% of the farmers adopted Bt maize during the 2011 to 2014 maize production seasons in the Gauteng Province. Results of the Logit model analysis indicated that farm size, gender, age, education level, off-farm employment, extension visits and farm neighbour had positive significant impact on the adoption of Bt maize by farmers. Visits by sales representatives of companies selling maize seeds, affiliation to farmer organisations and farmers speaking about Bt maize during meetings had negative significant impact on adoption of Bt maize by farmers. Developing farmers need regular visits of extension officers and their knowledge in order to achieve a high rate of Bt maize adoption. Well planted demonstration plots should be encouraged for farmers to adopt Bt maize as farmers believe in seeing to copy. Representatives from seed suppliers need to improve their sales approach in order to encourage adoption of Bt maize. Female developing farmers should be encouraged to get involved in maize farming by example making exclusive financing model for women farmers. Government can create legislations to commit financial institutions to provide women farmers with low interests or zero interest on farm loans to women farmers. Rigorous training should be encouraged so that farmers could successfully adopt Bt maize
Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology
M. Sc. (Agriculture and Animal Health)

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48

Williams, Remaketse Frederick. "The role of opinion leadership among maize farmers in Lesotho." Diss., 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/23437.

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The purpose of the study was to investigate the intermediary role that opinion leaders can play in the dissemination of agricultural technologies among the rural farmers in Lesotho in order to bridge the gap between extension and the farmers. A structured questionnaire was administered to 200 randomly sampled maize farming households, representing a 20 percent sample, from three villages in the Qeme area, namely Ha Mohasoa, Ha Pita and Ha Jimisi. Opinion Leadership was measured on the basis of number of nominations within and beyond the sample. The research findings confirm the importance of opinion leadership, which exists among both male and female farmers, but varies according to the degree of influence (number of nominations). Thirty-nine percent qualified based on influence as opinion leaders, but the strong opinion leaders were between 6 – 10 percent. Of the various personal and environmental factors that were assumed to have influence on opinion leadership, only some but not all actually had influence. The factors having influence were age, marital status, gender, farming efficiency and exposure to mass media. Factors having no influence were formal education qualifications, scale of farming operation and the reliance on farming as a source of income. Competence and accessibility appeared to be key dimensions of opinion leadership. However, in the study area, accessibility – was formal to be a precondition for the effective flow of information – was not a constraint. Ninety percent of all opinion leaders were, for example, assessed to have a high or very high accessibility. This accessibility was influenced by friendship, and gender, but social status appeared to have no bearing on it. Physical accessibility was also an important factor, which was emphasized by the finding that 85 percent of the strongest opinion leaders resided within a distance of less than 2km from the followers. In general, the opinion leaders were of a polymorphic type and seem to be consulted over a wide variety of subjects or commodities. Although there were indications of the stronger opinion leaders being more involved in reciprocative consultations, this tendency was much less pronounced than what has been found among white commercial farmers in South Africa (Düvel, 1996). Based on the similarities of findings of this study and those of Adupa&Düvel (1999) on small scale farmers in Uganda, it was recommended that more research should be conducted to interrogate and exploit the use of opinion leaders in the diffusion of information and innovations in Lesotho.
Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
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Essa, John Abdu. "Adoption of hybrid maize seed, fertilizer and machinery technologies by communal farmers in KwaZulu-Natal." Thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/5519.

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This study investigates the characteristics of technology adoption by small-scale farmers, notably the factors influencing the adoption of hybrid maize seed, inorganic fertilizer and machinery technologies. The study also on the basis of socio-economic and institutional factors, identifies the dimensions of small-scale farmers. Data for the study were obtained from a sample survey of 160 households in the Amangwane and Amazizi wards, located in the Okhahlamba magisterial district of KwaZulu-Natal during August 2000. The chief aim of this study is to generate empirical information that can be used to devise programs to encourage small-scale farmers to adopt agricultural technologies. The motivation of the research emanates from the fact that there is limited empirical information as to the actual adoption patterns of agricultural technologies by small-scale farmers. The nature and relative importance of factors associated with technology adoption is time and location specific. The study by using more recent and broader information builds on previous studies in order to complement technology adoption research on small-scale farmers. Understanding what factors influence the adoption of farm technologies and categories or dimensions of small-scale agriculture should provide information on policy options to stimulate technology adoption and improve growth in agricultural productivity. A categorical dependent variable was specified to identify farmers' adoption pattern of hybrid maize seed and fertilizer. Seventy-two farmers were adopters of both hybrid seed and fertilizer, 56 were adopters of either hybrid seed or fertilizer while 32 farmers were non-adopters. The results of binary logistic regression analysis indicate the adoption of hybrid maize seed and fertilizer is positively associated with, in order of importance, larger farms, older household heads, more value of livestock and better access to information sources. An index that indicates farmers' status of adoption of machinery technologies was constructed using a principal component analysis technique. The analysis showed that the adoption of machinery technologies can be represented by the single index which could be used as a dependent variable. A principal component regression analysis was subsequently used to determine factors contributing to the adoption of the machinery technology index. The results indicate that adoption was higher for (1) older and male headed households in general and residents of the Amangwane ward in particular; (2) operators of more arable land, owners of more livestock and earners of more non-farm income; and (3) households with large family labour, and households that made use of extension services and information sources. These results are consistent with hypothesised relationship between technology adoption and the predictors and are supported by previous empirical findings. Priority should be given to policies that alleviate the tenure insecurity problem on arable land and this in turn promotes a land rental market. This would involve an institutional change and legal infrastructural support services. Arable land holding is highly skewed within the communal setting and the state needs to address this equity issue on arable land through redistribution or reform policies. The state needs also to invest in public goods that alleviate the problems of private investors for example by encouraging credit providers or promoting rural financial markets to alleviate liquidity constraints and enhance adoption. Investment in farmer training and education should therefore, be seen as priority if higher adoption rates and an improvement in income are to be achieved. Inadequate and poor extension and information services imply an urgent need for the formation of community and farming associations and for the provision of extension services to groups of farmers. Investment in these areas may reduce the cost of technology transfer programmes. The results of a principal component analysis to identify the dimensions of small-scale farmers in communal areas of KwaZulu indicate that farmers fall into distinct categories. Component 1 is an emerging commercial and a more mechanised household while component 2 is a land-less farm household that is more educated and earns more non-farm income largely from contractor services. Component 3 is a non-farm female headed household that depends on income from land renting and non-farm jobs. Component 4 is a small intensive garden farmer, headed by a relatively educated female who has access to institutional services. Component 5 is relatively less educated, a female-headed and land-poor household that rents land and produces intensively. It is concluded that a single policy measure cannot do justice to the needs of all of the farmers since it would affect different households differently. An integrated and a comprehensive programme is needed that would promote agriculture; facilitate income transfer or safety nets to alleviate poverty and the relief of short-term stress; address the problems of tenure insecurity; overcome the gender inequalities in accessing resources; and restructure institutional supports by providing rural finance, and an extension and legal infrastructure.
Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

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Van, Zyl Stefanus Francois. "The impact of precision farming on the profitability of selected maize irrigation farms in the Northern Cape Province." Diss., 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27302.

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Maize is the most important grain crop produced in South Africa, serving as a food source for humans and animals, an input provider to other sectors, a source of job creation, a contributor of value added to the national economy, and an earner of foreign exchange. The South African maize industry plays an important role in the South African economy and consequently its role players should be supported to promote the industry. However, since the abolishment of the agricultural marketing boards and the deregulation of South African agriculture, farmers have suddenly found themselves exposed to global competition and a liberalised economy. Maize prices are uncertain and volatile, leading to increased risk. In addition, input prices have increased more rapidly than maize prices in some instances, and since no government protection exists, the cost squeeze effect places many farmers in a financial predicament. In order to mitigate the cost squeeze effect, farmers have started exploring farming methods and strategies that can improve their financial position. Precision farming (PF) is identified as a technological tool that can improve the profitability of a maize farm through higher yields and lower input costs, and can also indirectly assist in the general farm management and financial functions on the farm. The literature indicates that PF has been successfully implemented on various occasions with subsequent benefits, whether financial or qualitative. It could also be a useful tool to improve the profitability of South African maize farmers. Despite its various benefits, PF is associated with high capital expenditures and therefore farmers are reluctant to implement this technology on their farms. However, a PF service system that requires little capital expenditure is implemented by an agribusiness (Griekwaland-Wes Koöperasie) in the Northern Cape Province. Farmers who are part of this program only pay PF service fees that are charged on a perhectare basis. Most of the PF technologies and knowledge are provided by GWK and/or affiliated fertilizer companies, which subsequently mitigate the burden of high capital expenditures. The general objective of the study was to investigate the impact of PF on the profitability of selected maize irrigation farms in the Northern Cape Province. This was achieved by comparing the profitability and risk position of selected farms under a conventional farming (CF) system with the profitability of the same farms when converting to a PF system. The specific objectives of the study were to determine whether PF would generate better profits than CF; to determine whether PF would improve the farmer’s ability to repay his debt and generate an income (thereby improving the financial survivability of the farm); to determine whether PF would improve the debt-to-asset position of the farmer; and to determine whether PF is less risky than CF with respect to net farm income and cash position. The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) farm-level model developed by Strauss (2005) proved to be a useful tool to achieve the set objectives, since the BFAP farm-level model is linked with the BFAP sector model, which enables it to accurately analyse the impact of changes in policies and markets at both farm and sector level in South Africa. A positivistic approach was followed in order to answer the question, “What will the likely outcome be?” The model has the capacity to do simulations in both deterministic and stochastic modes. Three maize irrigation farms in the Northern Cape Province were chosen by a panel of agricultural specialists who are accustomed with the irrigation farms and PF system in this province. The farms were analysed by means of the BFAP farm-level model in order to determine the impact of PF on the profitability of each farm. The BFAP baseline of 2008 was used for this purpose. Key input variables were identified and simulated based on the BFAP baseline of 2008, as well as actual data, assumptions regarding PF and CF farming, and reported features and benefits associated with PF. In order to simulate the risk associated with CF and PF through stochastic modelling, correlated probability distributions were assigned to the relevant key input variables by de-trending the historical data of the key input variables. A correlation matrix based on the absolute deviation of a specific variable from its trend was subsequently constructed. Each variable was then simulated by means of a correlated empirical distribution, with 500 model iterations being run for each simulation in order to obtain stable probability distributions. From the results obtained in the study, the conclusion can be drawn that PF not only improves profit margins, but indirectly contributes to improved financial management. Considering the higher profit margins, more cash is at the disposal of the farmer. When this extra cash is again reinvested in the farming business, debt (in terms of production loans and medium- and long term loans) can be repaid more quickly and/or less debt has to be incurred, leading to lower interest payments that in turn further increase profit margins, ultimately improving the debt and cash position of the farm. The results also indicate that the risk position of the participating farms improved significantly with the implementation of PF. It can therefore be concluded that PF could also serve as a valuable risk management tool. From the discussions with the farmers it also became apparent that their overall farm management abilities were improved significantly, due to the informative nature of PF. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the hypothesis as stated in Chapter 1 cannot be rejected. In addition, several other aspects pertaining to PF should be considered. Firstly, the results are applicable to the specific participating farms in the study only, and cannot be attributed to all maize farms in general. Secondly, despite a meticulous process of data verification and validation, the conclusions drawn in the study are based on the quality of the data provided by the stakeholders. Thirdly, factors such as farming operations, management decisions, market, weather and disease conditions might divert from the assumptions made in the study and thereby affect the actual results in future. Fourthly, since the study focuses solely on irrigation farming, a similar study can be conducted on dryland maize farming, since the majority of maize is produced under dryland conditions. Fifthly, the study could serve as a starting point for a comprehensive study on the impact of PF on maize farming throughout South Africa. Sixthly, the study could pave the way for an investigation into using PF as a tool to negotiate lower crop insurance premiums for farmers. Lastly, it would be useful to conduct a similar study on the impact of PF on maize farming where farmers are responsible for the acquisition of their own PF equipment, unlike on the participating farms where no extra capital expenditures were required. This could enable researchers to provide a better answer on the question of costs involved when converting to a PF system, as well as the ideal farm size in terms of economies of scale. Copyright
Dissertation (MScAgric)--University of Pretoria, 2010.
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Maize farmers'

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